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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
  
Location: Texas | I am going to a private lesson with an english trainer. This will be an evaluaton on my riding skills so I can be placed in the correct program. I rode english many years ago, but I have out grown all my old stuff. Imay have pair of paddock boots, but other than that im thinking tennis shoes? Thick legging type workout pants and a decent looking t shirt? I will ask the trainer, but just looking for generally what they look for.. I know there are a few english people on here.. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
 
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | What you said, ask the trainer what he/she would like for you to wear. No tennis shoes for any kind of riding, unless you have the type of shoes for riding like with a heel and spur rest, I love these.
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2016-10-26 11:34 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 106
| so here are two answers....
basic 1st time, may never do it again..
1. Boots ( whatever kind you have even if it is cowboy boots), jeans, a t-shirt tucked in
Getting involved in a lesson plan and taking steady consistent lessons.
2. Paddock boots, half chaps, jeans, polo shirt or t shirt neatly tucked in, a belt, and your hair up in the helmet.
Tennis shoes are a big fat NO, work out leggings are going to be slick...tuck your shirt in...trainers need to be able to see your form.
clean, neat, and tidy...magic words.
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | Do NOT wear tennis shoes! Especially English.
If you're going to be taking lessons going forward, I'd go ahead and purchase half chaps & paddock boots. Fitted polo shirts are always good. Don't wear oversized clothing - they'll wan to see your form. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| Yes, absolutely no tennis shoes for english.
I'd buy a cheap pair of english boots. They'll protect your legs from pinching in the stirrup leathers. That eliminates the need for 1/2 chaps with paddock boots.
Be careful on the leggings. You get lycra/slick type workout ones and you'll slide around like hot butter. Stick to cotton ones. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Do wear clothes. Nekkid would probably be frowned upon. |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I hate half chaps, They are a pain all the way around in my opinion. I have some that I would sell if you decide to go that route, but I would recommend going with tall boots. They don't have to break the bank and you can usually find used or new in box for $100 or less on ebay. |
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Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | wyoming barrel racer - 2016-10-26 12:20 PM
I hate half chaps, They are a pain all the way around in my opinion. I have some that I would sell if you decide to go that route, but I would recommend going with tall boots. They don't have to break the bank and you can usually find used or new in box for $100 or less on ebay.
LOL - I'm the opposite! There's nothing worse than cheap boots if you're going to ride for lots of hours. If I was going to go cheaper than good boots and breeches... I'm chaps girl. |
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Location: Not Where I Want to Be | Three 4 Luck - 2016-10-26 1:12 PM Do wear clothes. Nekkid would probably be frowned upon.
depends on the trainer |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | Some type of sturdy boot with a heel is prefered. You can wear jeans and a polo shirt. Tuck in shirt and wear a belt. Make sure your hair is up and out of the way. You are all good to go for a bit until you decide to buy some breeches and boots. Have fun!!! |
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Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | I just got home and found my paddock boots and they still fit, thank god!!!
I will try and find a decent pair of breeches before my initial lesson.. I'm assuming paddock boots without the chaps will be ok for the first lesson? I need to save a little money and would like to invest in nice stuff so I could show for fun a litlle in the future.. |
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Veteran
Posts: 106
| MS2011 - 2016-10-26 12:23 PM
wyoming barrel racer - 2016-10-26 12:20 PM
I hate half chaps, They are a pain all the way around in my opinion. I have some that I would sell if you decide to go that route, but I would recommend going with tall boots. They don't have to break the bank and you can usually find used or new in box for $100 or less on ebay.
LOL - I'm the opposite! There's nothing worse than cheap boots if you're going to ride for lots of hours. If I was going to go cheaper than good boots and breeches... I'm chaps girl.
1/2 CHAPS ALL THE WAY HERE TOO! ;) |
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Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | outrundaizy - 2016-10-26 1:31 PM I just got home and found my paddock boots and they still fit, thank god!!!
I will try and find a decent pair of breeches before my initial lesson.. I'm assuming paddock boots without the chaps will be ok for the first lesson? I need to save a little money and would like to invest in nice stuff so I could show for fun a litlle in the future..
You're gonna get your legs pinched.... half chaps, tall boots, full chaps - they're worn for a reason. Can you borrow some from a friend? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| MS2011 - 2016-10-26 1:50 PM
outrundaizy - 2016-10-26 1:31 PM I just got home and found my paddock boots and they still fit, thank god!!!
I will try and find a decent pair of breeches before my initial lesson.. I'm assuming paddock boots without the chaps will be ok for the first lesson? I need to save a little money and would like to invest in nice stuff so I could show for fun a litlle in the future..
You're gonna get your legs pinched.... half chaps, tall boots, full chaps - they're worn for a reason. Can you borrow some from a friend?
agreed. you are going to need to protect your legs. |
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Veteran
Posts: 106
| MS2011 - 2016-10-26 1:50 PM
outrundaizy - 2016-10-26 1:31 PM I just got home and found my paddock boots and they still fit, thank god!!!
I will try and find a decent pair of breeches before my initial lesson.. I'm assuming paddock boots without the chaps will be ok for the first lesson? I need to save a little money and would like to invest in nice stuff so I could show for fun a litlle in the future..
You're gonna get your legs pinched.... half chaps, tall boots, full chaps - they're worn for a reason. Can you borrow some from a friend?
Its gonna pinch and hurt like hell without chaps ....
if it comes down to it and you have nothing....you can wrap polo's or a track bandage around your leg to mimic a 1/2 chap ..at least for the first lesson. :)
You may get a few odd looks but I bet it won't be from a hunter or jumper rider haha..they know all about it! |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | MS2011 - 2016-10-26 11:23 AM wyoming barrel racer - 2016-10-26 12:20 PM I hate half chaps, They are a pain all the way around in my opinion. I have some that I would sell if you decide to go that route, but I would recommend going with tall boots. They don't have to break the bank and you can usually find used or new in box for $100 or less on ebay. LOL - I'm the opposite! There's nothing worse than cheap boots if you're going to ride for lots of hours. If I was going to go cheaper than good boots and breeches... I'm chaps girl.
I have Ariats that I love the fit and style. I am short with decent calves so hard to fit. I found a new in box pair that fit wonderful on ebay for $100 shipped. |
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| star1218 - 2016-10-26 1:53 PM MS2011 - 2016-10-26 1:50 PM outrundaizy - 2016-10-26 1:31 PM I just got home and found my paddock boots and they still fit, thank god!!!
I will try and find a decent pair of breeches before my initial lesson.. I'm assuming paddock boots without the chaps will be ok for the first lesson? I need to save a little money and would like to invest in nice stuff so I could show for fun a litlle in the future.. You're gonna get your legs pinched.... half chaps, tall boots, full chaps - they're worn for a reason. Can you borrow some from a friend? agreed. you are going to need to protect your legs.
You can wrap polos on your lower legs to prevent the pinching
Have fun
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | 1DSoon - 2016-10-26 1:11 PM
Three 4 Luck - 2016-10-26 1:12 PM Do wear clothes. Nekkid would probably be frowned upon.
depends on the trainer
And who exactly is nekkid |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | you wont be doing to much first lesson.. paddock boots are fine for first couple times then id invest in half chaps to.... its all we train in.. tshirt is fine.. just slim .. not baggy.. hair up .. jeans might be ok at first..no big buckles.... then stateline tack has cheap breeches.. do not wear any bling jeans..they rip the saddle.. enjoy |
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | star1218 - 2016-10-26 12:53 PM
MS2011 - 2016-10-26 1:50 PM
outrundaizy - 2016-10-26 1:31 PM I just got home and found my paddock boots and they still fit, thank god!!!
I will try and find a decent pair of breeches before my initial lesson.. I'm assuming paddock boots without the chaps will be ok for the first lesson? I need to save a little money and would like to invest in nice stuff so I could show for fun a litlle in the future..
You're gonna get your legs pinched.... half chaps, tall boots, full chaps - they're worn for a reason. Can you borrow some from a friend?
agreed. you are going to need to protect your legs.
Could you possible call and ask the instructor if they have any spare chaps that you could borrow for the lesson? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | Unless you want to come home with pinched legs your going to need some protection on your legs. Instead of spending $100's of dollars on boots you may never use again go to a store like Payless or equivalent and buy a pair of tall black boots. This season there are lots of knee high boots that resemble English riding boots.
Make sure you either buy a pair you pull on or zipper in the back. Make sure it has a small heel. For $70 or less you have a pair of boots that work and if you don't like the lessons you still have boots you can wear out with friends.
Then buy a pair of black heavier fabric fitted yoga pants and there you go.
I rode in yoga pants for years simply because they were cheaper then breeches and washed better.
Have fun. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| When I rode English in my college horsemanship classes, I wore my tall cowboy boots and never had a problem. We rode in blue jeans and tucked in t shirts. I didn't buy English gear until we started going to shows. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Idaho | I started out riding English, did 4 years hunter jumper and 2 years dressage.
1. Do not wear sneakers, wear good riding boots.
2. Unless you have half chaps. Do NOT wear jeans. I did that the first few rides and I still have scars from the nasty, bloody, gaping saddle sores on my calves/inside of my calves I got from wearing jeans. So I would invest in some English riding breeches. The ones with velcro around the ankles and padding on the inside of her knee.
3. You can wear a regular shirt or dress for the occasion. You'll be moving a lot so don't wear anything too heavy! I remember on hot days we would wear sports bras and our pants. Kept us cool.
Probably be best to pull your hair back in a low set pony tail or even down, or a french braid, because they will give you a helmet.
Good luck! |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | How did your lesson go outrundaizy?  |
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Veteran
Posts: 138
| I wouldn't wear jeans if you are going to be doing this long term. Jeans can destroy an english saddle, especially calfskin that seems to be taking over the english saddle world. Invest in a couple of pairs of breeches. If you are a fairly standard size you can pick some up used off of eBay or your local Facebook equestrian page.
I would suggest either tall boots or paddock boots with half chaps. Otherwise you are going to get some wicked rubs on the insides of your calf from the stirrup leathers. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | I started taking English lessons (hunter-type) last year. I just have cheap paddock boots and half-chaps (both syntethic leather). I do not like riding English without my half-chaps. Things seem to rub without them, and they also help stabilize my leg a bit. But if you need to, you could ride a lesson or two without them. It's not going to kill ya.
You can make do with yoga pants if you need to, but they will be very slippery.
I agree no tennis shoes.
Have fun!! I love riding English. It's such a different feel.
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 Veteran
Posts: 268
| Paddock boots and half chaps. Jeans or breeches. T-shirt should be fine! |
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Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | Wow! That's all I have to say lol
I ended up going to a dover saddlery store and picking up some breeches that i'm sure I can get some good use out of.. Half chaps are definitley next on my list. I noticed it while riding but not enough to bother me, but the bruising on my legs is crazy!
They also put me on a 13.2h tall pony named BeeBop. Not what I was expecting for an english horse haha but it was fun and I have another lesson this sunday as well. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I am glad you had fun and going again.  |
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What do you wear to an english riding lesson?